Of a particular Kind of Crimes.

The reader will perceive that I have omitted speaking of a
certain class of crimes which has covered Europe with blood, and raised up
those horrid piles, from whence, amidst clouds of whirling smoke, the groans of
human victims, the crackling of their bones, and the frying of their still
panting bowels, were a pleasing spectacle and agreeable harmony to the fanatic
multitude. But men of understanding will perceive that the age and country in
which I live, will not permit me to inquire into the nature of this crime. It
were too tedious and foreign to my subject to prove the necessity of a perfect
uniformity of opinions in a state, contrary to the examples of many nations; to
prove that opinions, which differ from one another only in some subtle and
obscure distinctions, beyond the reach of human capacity, may nevertheless
disturb the public tranquillity, unless one only religion be established by
authority; and that some opinions, by being contrasted and opposed to each
other, in their collision strike out the truth; whilst others, feeble in
themselves, require the support of power and authority. It would, I say, carry
me too far, where I to prove, that, how odious soever is the empire of force
over the opinions of mankind, from whom it only obtains dissimulation followed
by contempt, and although it may seem contrary to the spirit of humanity and
brotherly love, commanded us by reason, and authority, which we more respect,
it is nevertheless necessary and indispensable. We are to believe, that all
these paradoxes are solved beyond a doubt, and are conformable to the true
interest of mankind, if practised by a lawful authority. I write only of
crimes which violate the laws of nature and the social contract, and not
of sins, even the temporal punishments of which must be determined from
other principles than those of limited human philosophy.